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While late 2014 was sprinkled with huge restaurant openings including Brennan's and Latitude 29 and many surprises like 1000 Figs and Red's Chinese, it's time to turn our attention to what awaits New Orleans diners in 2015. Promises of grandeur and casual dining are in store for the year, with many takes on Southern cuisine coming out of the wood work.
From wood fired pizza places to an upcoming modern Isreali stunner, here's a look at New Orleans' most anticipated openings of 2015.
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Carrollton
Location: 1506 S. Carrollton
Major Players: Nathanial Zimet, James Denio
The Sitch: The current location of Boucherie will transform into Bourré, a wing and craft daiq shop inspired by Chicken & Watermelon, when Boucherie moves into the Cafe Granada space in February. Expect tapas with exotic flavors too.
Projected Opening: Feb/March 2015
Also in Carrollton: Boucherie moves into former Cafe Granada space in February.
Central City
Location: 1504 O.C. Haley Blvd (inside SoFab)
Major Players: Ryan Hughes
The Sitch: Chef Ryan Hughes brings regional Southern cuisine to the gorgeous new location of the Southern Food And Beverage Museum, with dishes that range from curried goat to paneed rabbit. It's sure to be a showstopper.
Projected Opening: Today, January 7
Adolfo Garcia's Unnamed Project
Location: 1800 O.C. Haley Blvd
Major Players: Adolfo Garcia
The Sitch: Chef Adolfo Garcia hasn't let on much of what he'll do with the 3,000 square foot space he acquired in fall 2014, a former day care with two floors, but this will no doubt be one of the hottest openings of the year.
Projected Opening: Spring 2015
Roux Carre: Food Port of New Orleans
Location: 2000 O.C. Haley Blvd
Major Players: The Good Work Network
The Sitch: Splendid Pig, Miss Linda, Johnny's Jamaican Grill and more vendors will join this upcoming 'food port' on the bustling OCH this spring, including Adolfo Garcia alum Mirian Rodriguez, who will do papusas.
Projected Opening: Spring 2015
Mid City
Location: 231 N. Carrollton (inside former Wow Wingery)
Major Players: Dayne Woman, Simon Beck
The Sitch: The founders of The Salty Swine supper club bring dishes inspired by the Bible-belt and Cajun Country--warm pork rinds,chicken and waffle sandwiches, all things buttermilk--to Mid City, along with a fully stocked bar and housemade sodas.
Projected Opening: mid-January
Also planned for Mid City: Bayou Wine Garden will bring 150+ wines to Bayou St. John, Side Bar is planned near the courthouse, and Deutsches Haus is still on for a new bayou location as well.
Uptown
Location: 4213 Magazine Street
Major Players: Alon Shaya, John Besh
The Sitch: Alon Shaya will unveil his modern Isreali restaurant in the former Dominique's space in 2015, with cuisine inspired by his heritage and travels. Per a press release, the cooking will also "reflect the ongoing evolution of Israeli food, while celebrating the abundance of Louisiana."
Projected Opening: Spring/Summer 2015
Cavan Co. (formerly known as Manor on Magazine)
Location: 4213 Magazine Street
Major Players: Robert LeBlanc
The Sitch: The name change reflects LeBlanc's homage to his Irish heritage. The restaurant hasn't named a chef at this time, but will feature a meat-heavy menu and the swank vibe you'd expect from one of the restaurateurs behind Meauxbar, Sylvain, and Barrel Proof.
Projected Opening: Late 2015
Location: 5119 Magazine Street
Major Players: Jack Petronella, Coleman Jernigan
The Sitch: The masterminds behind pastry powerhouse ManhattanJack turn their attention to Italian food, a trattoria to be exact, named after the region Petronella's family comes from, Altamura will showcase authentic recipes from his grandmother and other family members.
Projected Opening: Spring 2015
Also Uptown: Maysville bourbon/oyster focuses restaurant is planned for Magazine and Nashville. Avo will open in just-shuttered Martinique Bistro, and HiVolt joins P's & Q's for pie/coffee synergy.
French Quarter
Location: 1032 Chartres
Major Players: Alex Harrell
The Sitch: Chef Alex Harrell, who helped shape Sylvain into one of Nola's best food offereings, will bring a a Spanish and Italian influence to Southern cooking at his upcoming casual eatery Angeline, to be located in the former Stella space.
Projected Opening: Spring 2015
Location: 622 Conti
Major Players: Tariq Hannah, Joel Dondis
The Sitch: The duo behind sweets emporium Sucre will bring their signature shop to the Quarter, but with a long-awaited new twist: the top floor will house a Salon with a killer wine list, small plates, and desserts prepared tableside.
Projected Opening: Spring 2015
Also in French Quarter: Ted Brennan's Decatur planned for 309 Decatur St.
Warehouse District
Location: 640 Carondelet St.
Major Players: Justin and Mia Devillier
The Sitch: Devillier will bring a more casual restaurnat than Le Petite Grocery to the CBD, with emphasis on the garde manger (cold station), serving up things like escabeche, oysters, brandade, pate, rillettes, and crudite. Expect this to be a great spot for Saints games.
Projected Opening: Spring 2015
Location: 404 Andrew Higgins Dr.
Major Players: Billy Wright, Will Salsbury
The Sitch: Pizza Domenica alum Will Salsbury does wood fired pizzas in this freshly opened brick restaurant caddy corner to Cochon. Other draws: a dazzling patio and over 40+ beers on tap.
Projected Opening: Just opened, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. (food until 11 p.m.)
[Photo: Facebook]
Location: 1051 Annunciation Street
Major Players: Cody Carroll
The Sitch: Hot Tails chef Cody Carroll (from New Roads, LA) will open his Cajun/Creole restaurant Sac-A-Lait in the former Sun Ray Grill this spring.
Projected Opening: March 2015
Also in Warehouse District: The St. James Cheese Co. expansion is likely opening in first half of 2015.
South Market District
Location: 611 O'Keefe (in CBD)
Major Players: Besh Group pastry chefs Lisa White, Kelly Fields; Booty's Street Food's Kevin Farrell, Nick Vivion, Octavio Ycaza; Magasin's Kim Nguyen
The Sitch: The Paramount is set to be one of the hottest food destinations of 2015 with Besh group bakery Willa Jean, Booty's downtown street food hub Ursa Major, and Vietnamese new wave expansion Magasin Kitchen hitting the building this spring.
Projected Opening: March 2015
St. Claude Avenue
Location: St. Claude Avenue
Major Players: Will Donaldson and Barre Tanguis
The Sitch: After a $3.7 million dollar renovation, and years sitting empty, the market will feature an oyster bar, cocktail bar, over a dozen vendors including Koreole, the Creole/Korean pop up, and Kristopher Doll of Cleaver & Co.
Projected Opening: Early 2015
Elsewhere
El Pavo Real will open in Broadmoor.
Drago's Firehouse Grill lands in Metairie this month.
Palador 511 brings pizza to the Marigny around Spring
Izzo's Illegal Burrito is taking over the shuttered Popeye's on Magazine
Nanobrewery and restaurant Lula is planned for the LGD.